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Dean Jutras looks back on year two at CCM
September 23, 2026
CCM Dean Pete Jutras shares a message with the college's community as he enters his third year.
Sound Design and Technology
CCM Sound Design’s BFA and MFA programs are guided by a hands-on philosophy and an immersive approach to industry-standard practices and technology for live entertainment.
CCM training in Sound Design and Technology starts in your first semester and continues throughout your academic program, with a comprehensive education provided in both classrooms and on production assignments custom-fit to the career you want to have. Our holistic program focuses on connecting tools with practical application, leadership and team dynamics and creative solutions to technical and artistic challenges. Our uniqueness derives from not utilizing installed sound systems in any of our three performance spaces: every show is built from the ground up, with students designing, engineering, installing, tuning, and troubleshooting each sound system. Design choices and drawing packets are reviewed by peers and faculty during design presentations.
The program features numerous production assignments in musical theatre, drama, opera and dance which may include mix engineer, production sound, wireless crew, sound operator, assistant designer and sound designer. We also offer opportunities in music composition, audio production for video, audio post-production for video and audio drama/podcast design and editing for interested students. Students also learn all the RF, networking, communications and video monitoring skills necessary for the modern live audio professional all staged in world-class spaces in the Corbett Center for the Performing Arts:
- Corbett Auditorium (capacity: 663)
- Patricia Corbett Theater (capacity: 378)
- Cohen Family Studio Theater (capacity: ~120, but is flexible depending upon show)
Faculty
Krista Billings,
Adjunct Instructor of Sound Design and Technology
513-556-9488
Emily C. Porter,
Chair of Theatre Design and Production; Associate Professor of Audio Technology
513-556-7482
Theatre Design and Production Department Chair
Emily C. Porter,
Chair of Theatre Design and Production; Associate Professor of Audio Technology
513-556-7482
Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration Division Head and Staff
Rebecca Bromels,
Division Head of Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration (TAPAA); Chair and Associate Professor of Arts Administration
513-556-5803
CCM's admissions process begins on August 1 for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 3 (for BFA applicants) and March 3 (for MFA applicants) to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.
Theatre Design and Production - BFA
Pre-screening
Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 3 to be considered for admission and invited for an audition.
Pre-screening Requirements
- Current resume
- 500-word applicant statement
- Use the 500-word statement to express: how you came to your area of theater design and production, what you expect to gain out of the CCM experience, and what direction you intend to go upon graduation. What are your personal and professional goals and how does CCM get you closer to those goals?
- Upload contact information for three references
- Portfolio (include theatre, artistic, and/or craft work)
- Theatre Design and Production questionnaire
Interview
Interview Requirements
- Application materials, along with experiences, achievements and long-range goals will be discussed at the applicant’s interview. All applicants will interview with faculty from the Theatre Design and Production department.
Additional Information
- Candidates should only apply to one major within Theatre Design and Production unless you are seriously considering two areas.
Theatre Design and Production - MFA
Pre-screening
Applicants must submit a graduate application by April 1 and the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before April 3 in order to request an interview with the faculty and be considered for admissions.
If you’ve participated in U/RTA you must submit the required materials (listed below) to Acceptd to be considered for admissions into CCM.
Pre-screening Requirements
- Current resume
- 500-word applicant statement
- Use the 500-word statement to express: how you came to your area of theater design and production, what you expect to gain out of the CCM experience, and what direction you intend to go upon graduation. What are your personal and professional goals and how does CCM get you closer to those goals?
- Portfolio (include theatre, artistic, and/or craft work)
Interview
Interview Requirements
- MFA Interviews should be coordinated and scheduled directly through the appropriate faculty. Visit the Theatre Design and Production website for the faculty directory and contact information.
- Application materials, along with experiences, achievements and long-range goals will be discussed at the applicant’s interview. All applicants will interview with faculty from the Theatre Design and Production department.
CCM Sound has a noted track record of being a leader in connecting our students with immersive audio, providing students opportunities to work with L-Acoustics L-ISA, d&b audiotechnik Soundscape and Meyer Sound SpaceMap Go. We were the first university to accomplish this feat. Students regularly have opportunities for training through d&b and L-Acoustics. Through our involvement with USITT, faculty connections, and our alumni network, we leverage unique opportunities for our students including comp tickets to tours, “ride-alongs” behind the mixing desk on Broadway and job opportunities.
Our students work in the industry, at times hired before graduation. CCM students boast a 94% employment or continuing education rate following graduation. Recent graduates are working in significant roles at MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil “O,” Stereophonic on Broadway, L-Acoustics, and on current national tours.
This is a sampling of our equipment inventory. It is an ever-changing list. Each TAPAA production has a sound budget, and we regularly rent or have industry partnerships that allow us to bring in additional technologies.
- Loudspeakers
- A full range of large and small loudspeakers and subwoofers (and the appropriate processors/controllers) by d&b, Meyer Sound, Apogee, EV, EAW, JBL.
- Mixing Consoles and Processors
- DiGiCo SD10 with SD & D stage racks and T software, Yamaha CL3 with RIO stage racks, PM5D and LS9 with various expansion cards, Midas M32R with DL racks; A variety of analog consoles are also available.
- Waves Soundgrid Server with SuperRack and various plug-in packages
- Meyer Galileo 616 Processor
- Aviom Personal mixing system
- Microphones
- A full range of wired and wireless microphones by DPA, Sennheiser, Shure, Beyerdynamic, AKG, Crown, Audix and more.
- Playback Equipment and Computers
- Several Mac Minis running QLab Pro Audio software either as a DANTE enabled device or with an external audio interface.
- Audio Interface options include MOTU, Focusrite and Presonus.
- Ipads with remote software including Meyer Compass software, d&b R1 and R10 software, DiGiCo remote, Yahama Remote, Qlab Remote.
- Wired and Wireless networks for digital audio transmission and remote control of equipment/software.
- SMAART v8/9 and Rational Acoustics mics for sound system tunning.
- Sound Devices 970 for multi-track recording and playback.
- Amplifiers
- Power amplifiers including d&B, Crest, Crown.
- Miscellaneous
- Headphones, video cameras and monitors, microphone stands, keyboards, audio snakes, intercom equipment and other miscellaneous equipment by AKG, Clear-Com, RTA, Furman, Kurzweil, Mark of the Unicorn, Panasonic, Roland, Sony, TOA, Whirlwind and other manufacturers.
- Auralex acoustic treatment
- Roland XP-80 76-Key Keyboard
- Yamaha P-71 Digital Piano
- Korg minilogue xd
- M-Audio 25-Key Controller
- SSL Nucleus 2 Mix Surface + Channel Strips
- Genelec studio monitors
- Surround sound capability
- Focusrite interface
- Mac computer with:
- Logic Pro X
- Audinate Dante DVS
- Pro Tools
- Native Instruments Komplete
- 3rd Party Instrument Libraries for Kontakt
- Qlab 5
The Theatre Design and Production (TD&P) Sound Design Project Studio is a well-equipped multi-purpose laboratory and production space. It functions as a classroom for some sound courses as well as a fully functional multimedia post-production studio.
The studio is also well-stocked with sound effects collections from Sound Ideas, Hollywood Edge and other production companies as well as microphones for a variety of recording projects.
News and Events
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Get to know CCM’s newest faculty and staff members
September 14, 2026
UC’s College-Conservatory of Music will welcome a variety of new faculty and staff members to its roster of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators this fall.
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CCM welcomes Jordan M. Davis as Assistant Dean of Admissions
September 8, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Jordan M. Davis, MA, as the college's new Assistant Dean of Admissions. In this role, Davis will be responsible for the vision, strategy and execution of all undergraduate and graduate recruitment and admissions for CCM. Working in partnership with college and university leadership, Davis will work to ensure that CCM's enrollment goals continue to align with its artistic and academic priorities. His appointment begins on Oct. 1, 2026.
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CCM shares 2026-27 calendar of ticketed + free performances and events
August 20, 2026
Experience world-class performances by the next generation of performing and media artists at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). With more than 130 different performances and events, there is something happening nearly every week of the school year!
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CCM announces initial schedule of performances for 2026-27
June 11, 2026
The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has announced its initial schedule of major performances for 2026-27. These 15 events include beloved titles for the stage like La bohème, RENT and Cabaret, along with concerts showcasing the works of Gustav Mahler, Duke Ellington and John Williams … just to name a few highlights! This schedule of major performances runs Sept. 15, 2026, through April 23, 2027. Tickets for all 15 concerts and shows listed below are on sale now. See individual performance listings for additional information.
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CCM alumni win big at the 2026 Tony Awards
June 8, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music alumni took center stage during a star-studded evening on Sunday, June 7, when music superstar P!NK hosted the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious Tony Awards. Two of CCM's most accomplished alumni took home top honors during this year's ceremony. Shoshana Bean and Stephen Flaherty both received Tonys during the June 7 ceremony.
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Best of Broadway: CCM alumni nominated in Tony Awards
May 18, 2026
Annually recognized by Playbill as one of the top schools most represented on Broadway, UC College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) has many alumni working on stage and behind-the-scenes in New York's professional theaters. Multiple CCM alumni have been recently recognized for their work, including in award nominations for the 2026 Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Chita Rivera Awards and Drama League Awards.
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CCM welcomes Rachel Roberts as Associate Dean of Strategy and Operations
May 11, 2026
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras has announced the appointment of Rachel Roberts, EdD, as CCM's inaugural Associate Dean of Strategy and Operations. In this newly-created role, Roberts will partner with Dean Jutras and other college leaders to advance strategic, operational and academic priorities. Roberts is nationally recognized for developing leaders and advancing how musicians and arts organizations learn, adapt and lead in an evolving arts landscape. Her appointment officially begins on July 6, 2026.
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Next OnStage: CCM presents 'Sweeney Todd' April 15-19
Event: April 15, 2026 12:00 AM
UC College-Conservatory of Music presents Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd on April 15-19, 2026 in Corbett Auditorium. An infamously bloody tale of obsession and revenge, the production features a collaboration between CCM’s nationally recognized Musical Theatre and Opera/Voice programs with the CCM Philharmonia.